Human body heater



Nqv. l2, 1963 1 ,.1. BRICKER 3,110,301

HUMAN BODY HEATER Filed sept. 2s, 1959 s sheets-sheet 1 FIG.5

mv: NToR L.J.v BRICKER A TTOR NE Y Nov. 12, 1963 1....BR1CKER 3,110,301

HUMAN BODY HEATER Filed'sept. 23, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR L.J. BRICKER BY q E c Q Wd Z E ATToRNE Nov. 12, 1963 l.. J. BRICKER 3,110,301

HUMAN BODY HEATER Filed Sept. 25, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGJI INVENTOR L.J. BRICKER ATTOR NEY lint-tired salaam Patented. Nov. l2, i963 3,110,301 HUMAN BDY Lester l. Briceer, 2%6 N.. Church Sat., Waynesboro, Filed Sept. 23, 1959, Ser. No. 84E/793 6 Claims. (Si. 12d-2%) This invention relates to the human body, its care and protection in order that the normal functions of the body may be maintained, and such protection includes severe temperature of the atmosphere and variations thereof, as well as to equipment by which such care and protection can be accomplished.

The invention relates specifically to a heater for the body and its circulatory system and to the installation and insulation of such heater in order to distribute heat over the body and protect against external temperature conditions and changes thereof.

Articles of clothing and heaters of various kinds have been employed particularly .for supplementing body heat where the body is exposed to lou.7 temperatures over an extended period and for use in exploratory operations and Where the temperature is low. The clothing and heating means heretofore employed include the structure shown in abandoned applications Serial No, 554,979, tiled December 23, 1955, and 671,106 tiled July 10, i957, of which this application is a continuation in part.

lt is :an o ject ot the invention to overcome the ditiiculties enumerated and to provide a body heater including an article of wearing apparel having incorporated therein a heater providing `a circulatory system by which the heat may be properly distributed for obtaining maximum benets.

Another object of the invention is to provide a body heater which is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction, easy to apply and remove, efficient in operation, as Well as a heater which can be readily turned on and oi and removed from an article of wearing apparel and replaced.

Another object of the invention is to provide a heater wholly contained within a garment or yarticle of apparel in such a manner that although it may be readily installed and removed, when in place there is no danger of the fuel line becoming frozen or otherwise damaged.

Another object is to proportion the oriiice and the pressure adjustment to maintain a safe llame in a body heater.

A further object is to provide a heater using readily available `fuel with such heater providing suiiicient additional heat to a persons body adjacent the heart so that the blood will carry sufficient heat to all parts of the body to maintain the temperature of the extremities of the limbs in comfortable condition and avoiding :danger oi freezing even though a person is not exercising.

Another object is to provide a heater which can be readily applied on a person or removed with -a minimum of delay and which will be safe in use.

A still further object is to provide a heater for location within a persons louter garment so that the products of the combustion Iwill heat the body inside or the outer garment.

Other `objects Iand advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description talen in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustrating tone form of the invention and its n e;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical section through a heater casing on the line 2 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detailed vertical section on the line 3 3 of FIG. 2; l

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detailed horizontal section on the line 4 4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective View illustrating the manner of attaching the heater;

CFI

FIG. 6 a perspective view of a modified type ot heater;

FIG. 7, an elevation of another form of human body heater showing the shoulder carrying strap at the upper end of the heater housing and showing a tank of propane gas with the burner `at the lower end;

FlG. 8, a perspective with parts broken away of the `torni yof heater shown in FlG. 7;

FlG. 9, a fragmentary section taken substantially on line 9 9 of FIG. 8 showing the burner and the baille tin cooperative relation;

FIG. 10, a detail oi the fabric cover and asbestos insulation and the carrier for the fuel tank Iand the combustion chamber.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the baule made from ya rectangular blank. t

FIG. l2 is a section taken on line lli-l2 of FG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a vertical transverse section of the lower portion of the 'body heater looking toward the burner showing the :assembly of parts.

FG. 14 is a longitudinal vertical section yof the upper portion of the body heater showing the attachment of the adjustable length carrying strap to the insulating jacket and the covering sleeve.

FIG. 15 is an axial section through the pressure regulating shut-oli` valve assembly applied to the discharge end of the fuel tank.

Briey stated, the invention Vis a body heater which includes the combination of wearing apparel and heating means therefor, and with the apparel having a circulating system so that the heat will be properly distributed. illustrative of the manner in which the invention may be practiced is by the use ot' a jacket or other article of apparel having a closed compartment with an opening in each of the two sides and a plurality of Iopenings in the top and bottom to allow circulation. A heater casing or container adapted to 4contain suitable heating means is carried within the closed compartment.

illustrative of the type `of heating means thatrnay be employed is a burner of conventional character which utilizes propane gas or other fuel from a burner supplied from a [disposable tank, such burner extending through an opening in the side of the container. The disposable fuel tank is reversible so that the burner may be inserted in either end of the container. Also the fuel tank may be secured in place by means of an encircling spring at the bottom of the container.

The container is surrounded by heat insulating material such as asbestos or the like and the pocket of the jacket in which it is inserted lik wise is of heat-insulating material. The pocket may be either fined or detachably secured to the jacket or to the article of wearing apparel, the insulation of the container preventing injury to the wearer.

As the air in the combustion chamber container is heated it rises and passes through the openings in the top of the container thus allowing cold air to enter the container through the openings in the bottom. The hot air circulates around the body of the wearer so that the blood in that area receives the heat and the various parts of body are maintained warm.

With continued reference to FlGS. 1 to 6 of the drawing, the body heater of t le present invention comprises a jacket ld having a pocket l with a liner i2, secured therein by means of stitching lf. The lower edge of the pocket extends to the lower edge of the jack l@ slightly below the belt le which holds the trousers l5.

The jacket lll may be made of any desired material capable of insulating against the passage of heat to thereby retain the body heat. A heater and a circulating system may be provided such as for example the heater disclosed in the above identified abandoned application Serial arrasar EndY movement of the fuel tank 2d is restricted by the angular disposition ofthe nozzle 2b within the opening l?, the nozzle 2b being adapted to be inserted in either or" the openings TLS or li for right or left hand operation.

The heater casing lo is provided with top and bottom members 2o and 27 rd soldered, welded, or otherwise secured in place, and having perforations 23 and respectively for the flow of air into and from the casing. Hot air heated by the burner 2% will pass upwardly through the openings 28 and will be replaced by the colder air entering through the openings 29 in the bottom 27.

Yas over the ends thereof. rl`he upper portion of the heater casing is provided with an insulating sheet or covering 32 and an overlying cove 'ing of cloth or other material 35. The insulating sheet 32 and the cloth 33 are provided with a series of openings 3d and 35, respectively which, with the openings 28 in the top of the heater casing 16, permit the discharge of heated air and combustion gases for distribution within the garment in contact with the body of the wearer. ln like manner the bottom of the heater casing is provided with a reinforcing platefor strip 36 having openings 37 for the entrance of auxiliary air to assure complete combustion and for air to be heated, and the bottom of the heater casing l and the reinforcing plate of strip 3d are provided with insulation 33 which joins the insulation 3l at the ends of the front and back of the eater casing l5. The insulation 38 is provided with openings 39 for the flow of air ther through, the insulation being covered with a bottom layer of cloth il and having similar periorations l for the ilow of air therethrough. rEhe spring is held in place by eye bolts 42 (FlG. 2), the bottom 27 and the reinforcing member 35 providing sumcient strength to support such eye bolts, the spring 25 and the disposable fuel tank 2d. The cover sheet has its front and rear extremitiesV extended upV- wardly along the insulation Si? about the heater casing and on the inside next to the person the insulation El? is provided with a clothcover sheet d3.

in PEG. 5 the structure is similar to that ofthe preceding gures except that the liner 12 is provided with an end fold l2. for the reception of snap fastener elements 44.- for engagement by com lementary snap fastener elements on a reinforcing strip 46 carried Within the garment lil. Thus the pocket and the heater may be detached from the garment. l e

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a body eater is provided which is a compact arrangement of garment with a pocket or compartment and a heater hav-Y infr openings bottom and top for the inlet and discharge respectively, or" air to be circulated beneath the garment for heating the wearer. Also it will be apparent that the Y structure is relatively inexpensive, simple to produce and use, and can be operated eiciently at small cost.

instead of being built into the garment, the heater of .Fl 5 Vmay be independently supported by a 'strap 47; The heater may be suspended by the shoulder strap 47 beneath jacket EL@ With'the disposable tank shoulder cured thereto.

Referring to the burner 2li, it will be apparent that air holes EA are provided for obtaining air for ombustion SS- n Y within the burner head 2d and such air can be adjusted in the usual manner and the burner disclosed in the other modifications are similar including the burner 213A.

The person using the heater device is advised not to wear more than two garments between the heater and the body.

Referring to the modiiication shown in FIGS. 7-10, inclusive, the heater includes the upstanding housing of oval shape crosswsection providing a combustion chamber, the lower end llZl and the upper end wall 122 being provided with openings for the ingress of air and theV egress of air and products of combustion respectively. A non-combustible insulating jacket made of asbestos sheet material E23 surrounds the side Walls of the housing and a flexible stocking like sleeve 124 surrounds the asbestos insulating jacket l23 and protects the asbestos irom abrasion and damage and also retains the insulating jacket in position while the sleeve 124 also provides additional insulation to prevent a person from being burned by heat from the combustion chamber. A tension spring ld is secured to the bottom end of the housing on suitable lugs or the like and such spring underlies the bottom receivinc and retaining a fuel tank i3?. in position under the housing. A burner head receiving opening lid is provided in the housing, and in the insulation jacket for receiving a burner nozzle or burner head 128. A tubular extension i217 is secured to and projects from the combustion chamber serving as a guide and guard for the burner head L13. A layer of non-combustible material such as an asbestos sheet 125A is secured to the outer surface of the sleeve 24 adjacent the nozzle guard 97 to prevent burning during the insertion of the lighted nozzle into the combustion chamber.

A 129 made from av rectangular blank Vof stainl less steel or other suitable material is secured at one of its ends by means of a downwardly turned'llange 130 and rivet 3353A to thc adjacent Wall ofthe housing 129 above the burner receiving opening 12d in the guard and guide f tube iff? in a position overlying the burner head 128 and causing heat from the burner to be deliected. The rectanguiar baille 29 is provided with side anges 131 along the adjacent edges extending from the ange i? where such side iianges are nearly horizontal to the free end where the flanges i3d are vertical for conlining the flame to the lower portion of the combustion chamber. The flanges 131 are separated adjacent the nozzleY receiving opening li to avoid contact of the burner head during insertion. `It will be noted that the bale l2? extends from the `attaching flange i3d toward the opposite Wall of the housing defining the combustion chamber to thereby cause uniform heating of the housing and gases therein.

The fuel tank 132 of the conventional propane type is rovided with the usual nipple :132A which is received by a female connection in a pressure regulating valve of the Sensitne type. This valve E33 includes adjusting lcnurled knobs i3d which are preset at theV factory to limit the iiow ci fuel to a maximum permitted within the housing to avoid dangerous heating thereof and therefore the adjustment cannot be varied except by a person skilled in this particular field. The adjusting knobs 334,

' 234A are threaded onto a threaded shaft iSd-B to provide a limit stop engaging against the hub 134C to determine the position of the valve at maximum openinv. The burner head E28 is mounted on a tube 135 extending from the valve and such burner head is of awell known type and is adapted to be received in the guard and guide Y is no danger of tire during the insertion of the burner when llame is formed therein. The valve assembly is mounted on the tank 132 by having the internally threaded boss l5@ of the body 133 arrasar efective oper rted, a hook i923 is formed ly and serves to engage the will always be maintained 'i After ythe rod i3d is e therein which opens upward eye in the free end of the coil sp tachment when inserting or removing racing a fuel tank 132.

The valve arranger cit assures a limited low of gas and that there is no danger of overheating, vthe iiame size being controlled to limit the size oi' the llame so that the inner cone is the nature or" one-half inch high while the outer cone does not exceed half the width of heating chamber. Y

A tube 15:55' (FIGS. 7 and 8) of conducting material such as metal extends along the side of the housing 2112? in heat conducting relation and is heated by conduction from the vhousing in the middle portion of the tube and a iiexible tube itil extends` from the tube to a nose receiving cup 3.42 similar to the nose receiving cup Z9 described in another modincation so that such nose cup is adapted to be -located adjacent the nose to provide heated air to be mixed with other air and'thereby prevent excessive cooling of a persons lungs.

Referring to EEG. S the strap is shown as secured to lugs adjacent the top wall M2 md the sleeve like fabric covering lfl and asbestos insulating covering i extend above the upper end wall l2?, and thereby provide a chimney to further guide heatedV air from the combustion chamber into the space between an outer garment and the body adjacent the heart thereby heating a persons blood.

lt will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be in the invention without departing from the spirit aad scope thereof and ltherefore the invention is not -limited by that wht-chie illustrated in the drawing and described in die specification, but only as indicated in the accompanying claims` What is claimed is:

l. A human body heater for ready attachment and support from a person comprising elongated upstanding housing providing a combustion chamber and having a plurality of openings in the bottom and a plurality of openingsV in the top for the reception of air for combustion and the passage of products of combustion respectively with the products of combustion adapted to pass i 5 to per-mit dethe burner or redirectly into the space between an outer garment and a persons body to heat portions of the body Vadjacent the heart so that the blood s ream will be maintained warm to maintain the body at a comfortable temperature, a tube extending along the elongated upstanding housing in heat conducting relation with the combustion chamber and with the lower end thereof outside of the combustion chamber for receiving fresh air and the upper end thereof projecting above the combustion chamber for attachment of a tube Vfor conducting breathing air, and a flexible tube connected Y to the upper end of said heat conducting tube, a mask in communication with said flexible tube for positioning close to a persons nose for directing warm air from said iiexible tube for inhalation into a persons lungs whereby heated air may be inhaled to maintain the body temperature, and means for suspending the body Vheater directly from a persons body without requiring alterations in the garment. Y

2. A human body heater to be used without modication of a persons garment comprising an elongated up- Si standing housing having side Walls, edge walls and top and bottom walls, said housing being of a thickness between its side walls substantially less than the Ywidth between the edge walls thereof, said housing providing a combustion chamber and having a plurality of openings in the bottom wall encompassing a major portion thereof for the ingress oi air and a plurality of openings in the top wall encompassing a major portion thereof for the egress of products of combustion, a cylindrical fuel tank of an axial length approximately the width of said housing and having a portion of its cylindrical surface in direct Contact with the bottom wall of said housing, a burner nozzle projecting from one end of said cylindrical fuel tank in a direction toward said fuel tank to overlie the Vcylindrical surface in contact with the bottom wall of said housing, said housing'having a burner receiving opening in one edge wall `for reception of said burner nozzle whereby said fuel tank can be applied to said housing by a lateral motion in the direction of the width of said housing and a motion in the direction of the length of said housing, an insulating sleeve open at both ends mounted on said housing and extending from the bottom of said housing to above the top end thereof, means to secure the bottom end of the insulating sleeve to the bottom end of said housing, strap means secured to the upper end of said insulating sleeve for carrying the human body heater, and tension spring means connected to and extending from the Ibottom of said side walls around said cylindrical tank and maintaining said cylindrical tank and said burner nozzle in operative position while permitting ready replacement.

3. The invention according to claim 2 in which a tube is positioned in heat conducting relation to said housing with one end adjacent the bottom of said housing and the other end adjacent the top of said housing, and a ilexible tube connected to said tube in heat conducting relationto said housing for conveying air to a persons mouth and nose whereby a person upon inhalation may draw warm air through said tube in heatV conducting relation to said housing and said ilexible tube.V

4. A lightweight human body heater for use in Vmaintaining body temperatures, said heater comprising an upstanding housing having top and bottom walls andside wall means forming a combustion chamber, said housing having openings in the top and bottom walls thereof, insulating material surrounding the side wall means of said housing, a burner extending into said housing adjacent the bottom thereof, a fuel tank connected to said burner, control means between said fuel tank and said burner -for controlling the rate of supply of fuel for combustion, means to mount said housing with the fuel tank and burner Y in operative relation inside of 'an outer garment whereby a persons body will be kept warm, abreathing tube extending closely adjacent to the combustion chamber andY in heat transfer relation with the products of combustion within the combustion chamber for receiving heat, said breathing tube being out of communication with the interior of said housing, a iiexible tube adapted to extend from said breathing tube to adjacent a persons nose and a nose-receiving outlet cup in communication with and secured to the free end of said ilexible tube whereby a person may breathe warm air through said breathingV tube' and said flexible tube. Y Y

5. A heater for use on a person -to provide additional heat in extreme weather comprising an upstanding hollow combustion chamber having top, bottomv and side wallV ment adjacent to the hips of a person, means to provide a supply of fuel directly below said insulated combustion chamber, a nozzle for fuel connected to said means to provide a supply o fuel and positioned within the lower portion of the combustion chamber, means to control the ilow ci uel from the supply of fuel tothe nozzle whereby the heater may be supported underneath a persons garment to provide heat between the garment and a person directly to tbe body of a person whereby the blood may be heated and the heart may carry a warm supply of blood to the body extremities, an air conductor provided in heat exchange relation to the combustion chamber and extending elow the combustion chamber, a iiexible conduit connected to said heat exchange air conductor, and

means at the extremity of said flexible conduit for discharging pure heated air adjacent the nose of a user.

6. A human body heater comprising a closed upstanding housing of substantial height and of substantially greater width than thickness providing a combustion chamber, said housing having a closed lower bottom end and closed upper top end md side wall means extending between said ends, the lower and upper ends of said housing being provided with a plurality of small openings encompassing a major portion of the ends for the ingress of air and the egress of airand products of combustion respectively, a non-combustible insulating jacket sleeve surrounding the side wall :means of said housing, a flexible stocking sleeve substantially completely open at the top and bottom surrounding said insulating jacket, means to secure said flexible stocking sleeve to the bottom end of said housing, a fuel tank, means to support said fuel tank below the bottom end of said housing, a burner extending from said fuel tank, said housing being provided with a burner receiving aperture adjacent its lower end for the reception of said burner, control means for iluid between said burner and said fuel tai-dr, exible means connected to and extending upwardly from the upper end of said stocking sleeve for mounting on a person and supporting said housing in upright position while maintaining said stocking sleeve in protecting relation around the housing to assure that the stocking sleeve covers the housing preventing excessive heat oi the housing strom contacting a person, said heater being usable to heat the body of a person within a garment and thereby heat the blood stream providing for the carrying of heat by the blood stream to the extremities o the body.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 912,527 Batter Feb. 16, 1909 1,998,327 McGuire Apr. 16, 1935 2,295,177 King Sept. 8, 1942 2,357,575 Benz Sept. 5, 1944 2,392,587 Goerg Ian. 8, 1946 2,460,269 Appeldoorn Feb. l, 1949 2,498,983 DAlbora Feb. 28, 1950 2,514,506 Mueller Iuly 11, 1950 2,561,531 Mueller uly 24, 1951 2,652,824 Hopp Sept. 22, 1953 2,683,484 Falligant July 13, 1954 2,789,289 Allen Feb. 5, 1957 2,829,c Teller Apr. 8, 1958 FCPRETGN PATENTS 13,969 Great Britain 1891 

1. A HUMAN BODY HEATER FOR READY ATTACHMENT AND SUPPORT FROM A PERSON COMPRISING AN ELONGATED UPSTANDING HOUSING PROVIDING A COMBUSTION CHAMBER AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF OPENINGS IN THE BOTTOM AND A PLURALITY OF OPENINGS IN THE TOP FOR THE RECEPTION OF AIR FOR COMBUSTION AND THE PASSAGE OF PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION RESPECTIVELY WITH THE PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION ADAPTED TO PASS DIRECTLY INTO THE SPACE BETWEEN AN OUTER GARMENT AND A PERSON''S BODY TO HEAT PORTIONS OF THE BODY ADJACENT THE HEART SO THAT THE BLOOD STREAM WILL BE MAINTAINED WARM TO MAINTAIN THE BODY AT A COMFORTABLE TEMPERATURE, A TUBE EXTENDING ALONG THE ELONGATED UPSTANDING HOUSING IN HEAT CONDUCTING RELATION WITH THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER AND WITH THE LOWER END THEREOF OUTSIDE OF THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER FOR RECEIVING FRESH AIR AND THE UPPER END THEREOF PROJECTING ABOVE THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER FOR ATTACHMENT OF A TUBE FOR CONDUCTING BREATHING AIR, AND A FLEXIBLE TUBE CONNECTED TO THE UPPER END OF SAID HEAT CONDUCTING TUBE, A MASK IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID FLEXIBLE TUBE FOR POSITIONING CLOSE TO A PERSON''S NOSE FOR DIRECTING WARM AIR FROM SAID FLEXIBLE TUBE FOR INHALATION INTO A PERSON''S LUNGS WHEREBY HEATED AIR MAY BE INHALED TO MAINTAIN THE BODY TEMPERATURE, AND MEANS FOR SUSPENDING THE BODY HEATER DIRECTLY FROM A PERSON''S BODY WITHOUT REQUIRING ALTERATIONS IN THE GARMENT. 